RICHARD BRANSON HURST

Born in Fort Scott, Kan. on Jan. 15, 1918, he was the son of Earl Dunkerton Hurst and Iris Ragan Hurst. Mr. Hurst was preceded in death by his sisters, Lillian Hurst Cullop and Elizabeth Hurst Stockwell and his brother Fred Hurst.

Mr. Hurst was a graduate of Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Junior College.

He retired in the late 1970s from the American Telephone and Telegraph after serving the company loyally for almost 40 years. At the time of retirement, Mr. Hurst was a safety supervisor in Atlanta, Ga.

He and his wife, Sara, moved to Morganton where they enjoyed the beauty of Western North Carolina and the friendliness of their chosen new ho home town. Mr. Hurst was an active member of First Presbyterian church where he participated in the choir, the men's Sunday school and also served as a deacon.

He loved music, reading and traveling with Sara. He enjoyed a number of hobbies including basket weaving, photography and woodworking. While living in Mint Hill, NC, he was a member of the Charlotte Oratorio Singers and also was instrumental in starting Mint Hill's original volunteer fire department.

Mr. Hurst is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sara Howell Hurst; a son, The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Hurst and his wife, Pam of Missouri City, Texas; a daughter, Janice H. Rostan and her husband, John of Valdese; two brothers William Hurst of Fort Scott, Kan and James Hurst and is wife, Martha of Greenwood, SC.

He is also survived by five grandchildren, Joel Hurst of Seattle, Wash.; Nathan Hurst of Tallahasee, Fla.; Melinda Williams of San Antonio, Texas; Mark Rostan of Valdese, NC and Michelle Frenzel of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 in the Ervin Community Room at Grace Ridge with the Rev. Michael Bailey officiating.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Morganton Building Fund, 100 Silver Creek Road, Morganton, NC 28655.